by Vera Roberts
After the video wrap-up, we all went to dinner to celebrate. I told Courtney she could have a couple of drinks but she declined, stating she was firmly on the job. I have to say if Courtney’s job was to protect me from anyone coming up to bother me, it worked. Even when I went to the bathroom, she accompanied me to make sure it was okay.
Shit, my man is a lot smarter than I think he is.
“I’m exhausted,” I yawn, “but it was a lot of fun. We did three takes. I think I’m going to put the girls to rest for a few days.”
Ian adjusted his position in bed. He’s actually wearing clothing for a change. I guess when he’s not with me, there’s no reason to sleep naked. “I’m glad to hear everything went well. That’s exactly what I want to hear!”
“How’s Sydney and her tour?”
“It’s going well,” Ian also yawned, “she’s made a great impression with a lot of museums and private art collectors. She’s going to be a very rich woman.”
“Good. I’m glad for her.” It was a sincere reaction. I’m still jealous but I wonder if it’s really just all in my head and I have no reason to be.
“How’s Courtney working out for you?” He asks. “Do you like her?”
“She’s great,” I reply, “though I thought she would be a bit more lightened up. She didn’t want to have a drink when we all went out.”
“Well, I’m not paying her to socialize when she should be protecting you. She’ll have a drink when she gets home.” Ian states. “Your safety is my top priority, angel. Nothing more, nothing less.”
The way Ian said it makes me all warm and tingly inside. “I know and I appreciate that.”
“You’re welcome,” Ian yawns again, “it’s late here so I need to get to sleep, angel. Are you going to sleep now?”
“Maybe,” I lightly shrug, “I also thought about staying up and practice masturbating to see how it feels. It probably won’t be the same as your hardened cock inside my tight, wet pussy but my fingers would be a good substitute as I think about how much I want to swallow your come.” My face is completely straight and I’m only blinking.
Ian just stares hard at me and sighs. “Keep talking that shit, I’m going to fuck your brains out when I get home.”
“I hope you do!” I laugh. “Good night, baby. I love you.”
“I love you more.” He hangs up.
After I get off the phone with Ian, I’m still too awake to go to sleep. I turn on the TV and casually flip through movies when I see the start of something interesting pop up:
The Bodyguard.
Coincidence? Probably. But hey, now I can see Kevin Costner when he was younger. He was pretty cute back then. Okay, I’m digging him already. I get settled into bed and watch the movie as I think of Ian and how he protected me from Todd. It was so sudden, yet so damn sexy.
My man flew on a helicopter for me. Let me repeat that – he took time out of his insanely busy schedule to protect me from Douchey McDoucheface.
I love Ian with all of my heart. With that, I turned on my phone and Googled ‘engagement rings.’ Since Ian might propose soon, he should at least know what I would like.
Thirteen
I’m not a celebrity.
I repeat: I’m not a celebrity.
Yeah, today I’m Internet famous.
Dolce’s video premiered and I’m officially a trending topic yet again. The video has already racked up fifteen million views and it’s barely nine a.m. I can’t even fathom how many views it’ll eventually peak at.
Now I’m no longer known as just Ian Ferguson’s “friend,” since not too many people know about our real-life romantic status. I have an official name of my own – just Domi.
Bobby did an amazing job on the video. He slowed it down in some areas and chopped it up in others. He highlighted all of my strengths, and hid my faults. Shit, I need to hire him for my wedding video. I hope he’ll make me look flawless.
I’m not getting excited about this quite yet. While I’m more web famous now, I still have a studio opening in a few days and the clock is ticking. I need this studio up and running with very little hang-ups. Adrienne has offered to play cashier and janitor (begrudgingly) while Emma has invited every one of her mom friends to the opening.
Already, the first day is booked. The following classes on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday are also booked. I am excited but man, the pressure is on!
I need this studio to be a success to finally shut up the detractors who think I’m only successful because of Ian. I’m not going to front and say Ian’s wallet didn’t make my dreams easier, but he’s also not the one climbing a pole in six-inch heels and about to murder everyone. He also doesn’t have to worry about stacking money with commas and decimals.
The Ferguson name is riding on this studio being a success. The outside pressure isn’t a thing, but the inward pressure is about to strangle the air out of me.
“Doesn’t your man have people to do this shit?” Adrienne sighs as she takes a break from sweeping. Again, my sister’s face is completely as she’s wearing her weave (now ebony black) in a bun, and the tightest yoga pants and matching top set. And I mean they’re tight – either my sister went ahead and had the full surgery or her tuck game is strong.
“For real,” Emma chimes in as she wipes down the newly installed poles, “I can pay money to get people to do this for us while we watch their tight asses work!”
“Now you’re talking!” Adrienne laughs.
“He’s busy traveling with Sydney so it’s up to me for the last minute preparations. He’ll be here for the Grand Opening, though.” I mention as I wipe off the counter. It’s hella early on a Tuesday morning and the last thing I want to be doing is cleaning my studio when I could be sleeping. However, the grand opening is this Saturday and I need everything to be perfect before I can open it up to the public.
“And how is that going?” Adrienne sweeps some dirt into a dustpan. “Are you okay over there?”
“I’m fine,” I politely lie. When Sydney posted on her IG account, there was a picture of her and Ian standing next to each other, with their hands wrapped around each other’s waists. They were standing with other art curators at another museum as Sydney’s artwork was displayed in the background. The caption was how honored she was, and it was such a blessing and blah, blah, blah.
All I cared about was why they were so touchy-feely.
What happened after the picture? What happened before? Was she in the room when Ian FaceTime’d me the other night? Wait a minute…did I just talk all of that nasty stuff to my boyfriend and she could’ve been in the room?
Adrienne empties the dustpan and leans against the broom. “So, on a scale of Cleveland Bus Driver to Eat the Cake, Anna Mae, how angry are you?”
I sigh and look up at the ceiling. “I’m about to make a long-distance drive wearing an adult diaper to confront my boyfriend’s new girlfriend mad.”
“Damn!” Emma laughs. No, bitch, it’s not funny. I was looking at Depends the other day. “Your jealousy is that bad, Sister?”
“I know I shouldn’t be jealous but I can’t help it,” I shrug, “Ian’s everything to me and I just hate the thought he might be dipping his dick into some other art.”
“I doubt he’s doing that, Sister.” Adrienne walks over to me. She grabs three bottles of water and hands one each to me and Emma. “He loves you very much and you’re all he wants.”
“I certainly hope so. I mean we just signed that prenup prenup so I hope I’m not being screwed. I did request to add an infidelity clause to it and he agreed to it. I’m also getting a set amount of money for each month we’re together. In case I do get pregnant, I’ll get money for that to take time off for child-rearing.” I shrug.
“Speaking of which,” Emma takes a swig of water, “you do know that wasn’t a prenup prenup you signed, right?”
“Oh?” I take a swig. “What was it, then?”
“The actual prenup.” Emma calmly states.
&
nbsp; I quickly spit the water out across the room, and Adrienne leaned back as if she learned a move from the Matrix. “WHAT?”
Adrienne looks at the mess I made on the clean floor she’d just swept. “My damn, you are so dramatical.”
“Forget that part!” I yell. “I just signed a prenup!”
“Didn’t our lawyer tell you it was one?” Adrienne wipes up the mess.
“Well, he said it was a prenup but I thought he just shortened it because he didn’t want to repeat the word twice!”
Adrienne looks at me as if she’s about to say, ‘Now, here’s what you not gon’ do…’ “Sister, talk to me. What’s really going on? You’re never this insecure before in any of your past relationships. Is Ian treating you right?”
“Ian’s perfect,” I sigh, “it’s just I’m about to be part of a dynasty. This studio will forever be connected to the Ferguson name. Do you know how many followers I have on IG now? Freaking two hundred thousand people! Two hundred thousand people are interested in seeing my booty twerk!”
“Well, I’m sure that’s one reason,” Emma shrugs, “I kinda like your food posts.”
“Forget about that!” I don’t want to smile and laugh but leave it to Emma to make me crack a little. “I’m scared, okay? I’m scared that I’m about to become a part of the Ferguson dynasty. I don’t know what to do.”
“Sit back and enjoy it,” Adrienne shrugs like it’s really no big deal. And maybe she’s right. Maybe it really isn’t a big deal and I’m just turning a mole hill into a mountain. “The whole family approves of you and that’s huge. “
“She’s right,” Emma chimes in, “From what I’ve understood, they never approved of Ian’s other girlfriends.”
I can’t help but to think of the story between Ian and Naomi and what could’ve been. The more I think about their relationship, I definitely wonder if it was a business arrangement and the only one who didn’t know about it was Ian. It also explains why he had such a flippant attitude towards any other woman he dated after Naomi.
“Besides, Anthony loves you! And I hear Gerald’s finally turned around to accept you.” Adrienne winks. “That’s huge.”
“Well, Gerald’s never cared for me, so there’s that.”
“Not necessarily,” Emma begins, “Gerald knew all about Ian and Naomi’s relationship. He never liked her and thought Ian was too good for her. When the engagement failed, Gerald took it upon himself to “suss out” any of Ian’s other girlfriends. None of them made it past the first month.”
I thought about the picture I took of the brothers were they were laughing and smiling. I’d known Ian for exactly one month.
“Plus, he did that garden for our mother and well, he wouldn’t just do that for anyone who’s not related to the family.” Adrienne beams and hugs me. “Just admit it, Sister, you’re about to become a member of one of the most powerful families in the world. It’s okay to be shooketh.”
“Okay, I’m a little shooketh,” I finally cave in, “I just want to do right by man, that’s all.”
“I think that won’t be a problem,” Emma chimes in.
My cell phone notification goes off and I see it’s a message from Candy. Hey Genesis! I was wondering if you could give me a call whenever you have a free moment? Talk to you later, kiddo.
Adrienne read the text with me. “What the hell does she want?”
“I have no clue,” I shake my head. Candy’s been avoiding me on Facebook, though I haven’t really been interacting with her very much. To be honest, I haven’t really been on Facebook or any other social media site between the video shoot and getting the studio ready. Hell, I haven’t even had time to figure out what I’m going to bring for Thanksgiving! “Never mind about that. I’m starving. I’m going to go dump this in the trash real quick.”
“Great! I’ll close up here.” Adrienne begins to roll down the blinds.
I head outside to the dumpster I share with a few other businesses when I’m startled by another voice. “Genesis! There you are!”
I already recognize his voice and I’m irritated I have it memorized. I dump the trash in the dumpster and turn around to greet Todd. “What do you want?”
“I just wanted to talk to you for a moment,” he stands too close to me and he knows it, “have you considered my offer yet?”
“You purposely told a lie about me to your wife, and she spread that to all of her friends who think I’m after you!” I sneered. “No, I haven’t considered your offer because you’re an awful person!”
Todd chuckles like it’s the funniest joke he’s heard. “I merely did that to get your attention. Now that I have it, the offer still stands.” He steps closer and caresses my cheek. I slap his hand away and his lips purse. “Ooh, I like pain.”
“Stay the fuck away from me,” I warn, “this is the last time.”
“Or what? You’re going to run to your little boyfriend who’s away in another country with a gorgeous and sexy woman?” Todd’s words got to me and he read my emotion. “He’s quite fond of Sydney, yes?”
“One last time,” I stare into Toddy’s sinister eyes, and am not daunted by the gleam within them, “leave me alone.”
“Is there a problem, Miss Kimbrough?”
Todd turns around and nearly jumps out of his skin upon seeing Courtney. She’s already in position to attack him in case he’s feeling froggy. “No, Mr. Christensen was just leaving.” I state as Todd steps aside.
“I’ll see you later, Genesis.” He grins and walks off.
Courtney carefully watches Todd leave before she turns to me. “By the way, the microphone works great. So does the playback.”
“Oh yeah!” I take off the strapped microphone and wrapped the cord around the power box.
“Sister!” Adrienne and Emma rush over to me. “We heard everything!”
“Are you okay?” Emma asks.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m just annoyed! He won’t leave me alone until I give into him. But I’m afraid if I keep rejecting his advances, he’s going to go after Ian.”
“Yeah, good luck with that,” Emma rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know what I’m going to do now,” I sigh. This is something Ian doesn’t need to be made aware of but I’m afraid I have no choice. “So what now?”
“I know you don’t want to get Mr. Ferguson involved but I don’t think you have a choice now,” Courtney replies, “you need to put Todd in his place before he destroys your reputation even further.”
It makes sense what Todd is attempting to do. If he wants to hurt the Fergusons, he’ll start with me and I’m the easiest target. Geez, what an asshole. “What do you suggest?”
Emma briefly looks at the ground. “I have an idea,” she nods, “yeah, this idea will definitely work. I’m sure you and Ian will hate it but it’s the only thing that will shut Todd up.” She takes out her cell phone and dials Gerald. “And we need to get the family involved.”
Fourteen
As I study Frank’s face, I have to wonder: gay comes in this model?
Frank is a man’s man. He has a full-length beard, is muscular, has light brown eyes to match his dark hair, and stand well over six feet tall. If I had to properly describe him, I would say he looks like a white version of Jidenna. I wonder if “Classic Man” is his favorite song?
He has a deep, mesmerizing, woman-are-you-gon-take-them-draws-off-or-do-I-to-rip-them-off-with-my-teeth voice and I just keep wondering the how and the why that he’s gay?
“Any questions, Dominique?” He finally looks up at me. We’re meeting at the Ferguson Gallery, in Ian’s office. I haven’t been back here since I quit but I did notice a couple of changes since: Ian’s desk has one more picture – the very first gala we attended together. We’re looking at each other and smiling.
It’s weird to look at that picture and see how far we’ve progressed in our relationship. Not weird, bad. But weird as how truly magical that night was. It was the start of a lot of things and I’m so g
rateful for it.
I shake my head out of my Jeopardy! wondering and look back at him. “What?”
Frank smiles. “Have you not paid attention to anything I said?”
“No,” I honestly answer. “Not one word.”
“Okay,” he humors me, “Ian’s coming in tomorrow night for your opening but he’s flying back out Sunday morning. He’s going to do one last stop with Sydney in his native London before he flies back just in time for Thanksgiving.” He hands me Ian’s itinerary to me. “He’ll have a car picking him up. He also wants to have your opening night party at Sentiment. He’s arranged for your glam squad to come in that day and prep you after your classes.”
“Oh wow.” The information makes me sit up straight. I thought Ian would’ve been too busy with Sydney to worry about my studio. The news of him flying in just for the opening makes my heart happy. “I thought the tour was until December?”
“It was but there’s been a change of plans,” Frank straightens some papers, “Ian is going to hand off duties to Gerald so he could be around more here in Los Angeles.”
“Oh?” My arched eyebrows raise at the new change. “What prompted this?”
“Gerald is the Vice-Chair of the Ferguson and he wants to directly supervise Sydney’s progress as she’s being toured. Her gallery is opening next year so there’s a lot of work to be done and Ian won’t have enough time to handle both Sydney’s art show and his… restaurants.”
Frank slowly pronounced restaurants as if it was a brand-new word he had to sound out. Weird. “I see,” I chew my lip. The news is disappointing. I thought our relationship would be the reason why Ian would leave the tour but it’s his businesses. Oh well. I can’t really complain because technically I own a studio given to me by him. “Well, that’s good to know.”
“Is there anything else, Miss Kimbrough?” He asks.
“Um, you can call me Domi, that’s okay.” I suggest.